TANZANIA: MASS DAR-ES-SALAAM YOUTH RALLY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF ARUSHA DECLARATION

Record ID: 215177

  • Title: TANZANIA: MASS DAR-ES-SALAAM YOUTH RALLY CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF ARUSHA DECLARATION
  • Date: 7th February 1968
  • Summary: PRESIDENT NYERERE'S CAR ARRIVES; PRESIDENT GREETED; SWORD-BEARER FORWARD; GUARD OF HONOUR INSPECTED' BOYS APPLAUD; PRESIDENT ON DAIS; YOUTHS MARCH PAST WITH PHOTOGRAPHS; DANCERS; YOUTH LEADER ADDRESSES PRESIDENT; PRESIDENT RECEIVES SASH; PRESIDENT HOLDS SHIELD; CHILDREN WAVE. Initials IF/VS/AS/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserve
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DAR-ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
  • Country: Tanzania
  • Reuters ID: LVA8B1RHRKGN5X7BWRTU95N5Y6B2
  • Story Text: MONDAY (5 FEBRUARY) WAS THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF TANZANIA'S ARUSHA DECLARATION - TANZANIA'S MANIFESTO FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION. IT WAS DULY CELEBRATED IN A MASS DAR-ES-SALAAM RALLY INVOLVING SOME 50,000 YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EVERY QUARTER OF THE COUNTRY.

    MONDAY'S CELEBRATIONS MARKED THE END OF NATIONAL YOUTH WEEK. THE CLIMAX CAME WITH A MASSIVE PARADE OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE - COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE GREEN GUARDS - WATCHED BY PRESIDENT NYERERE AND A CROWD OF ABOUT 10,000 AT THE NATIONAL STADIUM. FOR MORE THAN A MONTH, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND YOUTHS HAD BEEN TRAINING FOR THE OCCASION.

    THE ARRIVAL ON MONDAY MORNING OF THE PRESIDENT'S CAR WAS THE SIGNAL FOR THE FESTIVITIES TO BEGIN. AFTER A TRADITIONAL WELCOME, PRESIDENT NYERERE PERFORMED THE RITUAL INSPECTION OF THE GUARD OF HONOUR. BUT THE MAIN CONCERN OF HIS DAY WAS THE YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR, IN HIS OWN TERMS, THESE WERE THE VANGUARD OF THE REVOLUTION.

    THE PRESIDENT WAS TO REMIND THEM OF THIS ROLE IN AN ANNIVERSARY SPEECH, MADE IN REPLY TO A WELCOMING ADDRESS BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE YOUTH LEAGUE. HE STRESSED THE MEANING OF THE ARUSHA DECLARATION, AND REPEATED HIS CONVICTION THAT ONLY THROUGH HARD WORK WOULD TANZANIA BE ABLE TO MAKE ITS INDEPENDENCE MEANINGFUL. THE PLOUGH, HE SAID, WOULD PLAY THE MOST IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE BUILDING OF TANZANIA'S ECONOMY.

    TWO TRIBUTES AWAITED THE PRESIDENT. THE FIRST AWARD, HANDED TO THE PRESIDENT BY A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY, DECLARED HIM 'HERO OF AFRICA'. THEN THE TANZANIA AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION MADE A PRESENTATION COMMEMORATING THE EPOCH-MAKING REVOLUTIONARY WALK MADE LAST YEAR FROM BUTIAMA TO MWANZA - PRESIDENT NYERERE HIMSELF LEADING THE MARCHERS ALONG THE 134-MILE TRAIL FROM HIS BIRTHPLACE.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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